TERRE HAUTE —
Taylor Carter. Colin Carver. Connor Curley.
There are a lot of Cs in those initials (Carter was not asked to change her first name for the benefit of this story, by the way), but that doesn’t mean they turned in average work during the high school spring sports season.
So far above average were these three athletes, in fact, that they are the Tribune-Star’s Wabash Valley Athletes of the Year for the spring — Carter because she might have been the Valley’s best softball hitter or its best softball pitcher, or both, for Northview; Curley because his quest for an undefeated season in pole vault for Terre Haute North came just one place short at the Indiana boys track and field finals; and Carver because he was unbeaten in his two main events for Casey, winning both Illinois Class A hurdles championships.
Carver was not only the only state champion among these three athletes, he might be the most unlikely state champion around, he revealed last week while sitting out a practice for the Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association with a chronic groin injury.
“I’m not flexible at all. I can’t even touch my toes,” he said with a grin, appreciating the irony of someone with chronic groin pain being asked — and being able — to run fast while jumping over things.
The Warrior senior did that pretty consistently all four years at Casey, where he also played four years of football and three seasons of basketball.
Except for a false start in the sectional of his freshman season, “I’ve been to the state finals since seventh grade,” Carver said.
As a sophomore he placed ninth in the 110-meter high hurdles, then added the 300-meter intermediate hurdles as a junior — when he was second in the state in that event and fourth in the highs.
Going into his senior year, his goals were pretty obvious.
“The guy who came in first [in the high hurdles in 2011] moved up to [Class] 2A, and the other two guys ahead of me graduated,” Carver pointed out. “The guy who was first in the [intermediate hurdles] graduated.”
Had he not been undefeated, then, Carver would have been disappointed in himself. He wasn’t thrilled even by winning two state championships, helping the Warriors finish in a fifth-place tie as a team.
“At the finals I didn’t run good at all,” Carver insisted, posting winning times of 14.65 seconds in the highs and 38.71 seconds in the intermediates. He’ll be taking his speed and his balky groin to Eastern Illinois.
Curley, who had a strong fourth-place finish last weekend at the Midwest Meet of Champions — vaulting 15-foot-6 and losing only to state champions from other states — also wasn’t completely satisfied with his state-finals showing of 15-3 (the winner went 16-1), but could appreciate the season as a whole.
“I didn’t get as high as I wanted to go [at the finals] … but it was a really successful season. I’m pretty proud of myself,” he said.
It was quite a journey in the event for the Patriot graduate, who improved from 10-6 as a freshman — “when I couldn’t even bend the pole,” Curley noted — to 12 feet indoors and 13 feet outdoors as a sophomore, then started a summer training regimen that enabled him to reach the state finals his last two years.
His personal best in competition so far is 15-7, his winning height at this year’s Evansville Regional — where he just missed a try at 16 feet.
He expects to better that mark sometime this summer as he prepares to enter Indiana State in the fall, and he’s had two other summer meets — winning in one at Fort Wayne, placing second in another at Rushville — to help him get there.
“I’ve been working my butt off,” Curley said. “I want to get 16-3 before I get to ISU.”
Unlike the two boys, Carter still has a senior season waiting for her at Northview, although she too knows where she’ll be playing in college. She’s made a verbal commitment to East Tennessee State.
The star of the Knights looks ready to fulfill any role on a college team. She had a 16-6 record during her junior season as a pitcher — including a complete-game win over eventual Class 4A champion Plainfield during the regular season — with 166 strikeouts in 141 innings.
At the plate, Carter batted .490 with 12 doubles, a triple and nine homers, driving in 42 runs and scoring 29. Her slugging percentage was .900, her on-base percentage .549, which means her OPS — the trendy new statistic in which a mark of 1.000 indicates a superstar — was 1.449. A superstar-and-a-half, if you will.
With her college choice out of the way — “I really liked it down there,” she said of the Johnson City campus of ETSU — Carter’s motivation involves getting to where Carver and Curley have been, the state finals.
“At the beginning [of the 2012 season] we were all different [from the 2011 team] … but as the season went along we learned to play together,” she recalled. “It all came together for us, we just couldn’t pull it out in the end [losing to Terre Haute South in the sectional semifinals].
Plainfield needed its march to the state championship to pass the 20-win mark, something the Knights, the Braves and Terre Haute North — Northview’s first-round sectional victim thanks to two Carter homers — also attained. The 2013 sectional could be just as tough — and possibly provide another state champion.
“I’m looking forward to everyone [on the Northview team] working over the summer,” Carter continued. “We need to focus on softball … and get our bats together.”
Sports
Wabash Valley Athletes of the Year
Honorees had stellar high school athletic seasons
- Sports
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Defense: West Vigo second baseman Lucas Fagg fields a ground ball for an out in the Vikings semi-final sectional baseball game with Edgewood.
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West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
High school baseball sectional games between West Vigo and Edgewood have had a tendency to be unpredictable over the years, but the Vikings and Mustangs outdid themselves in that area Thursday evening — and Thursday night.
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
Terre Haute North had three winners, Terre Haute South two, and the Patriots and Braves finished second and third respectively at the Evansville Regional for boys track on Thursday at Evansville Central.
Hurdlers Cam Stewart and Cole Seward and discus thrower Lee Davis were the winners for North, enabling the Patriots to finish with 60 points to 59 for the Braves. -
Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
Ask any IZOD IndyCar series champion and he’d say he would gladly give up that championship to win one Indianapolis 500.
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South Vermillion pitches team to sectional title, wins for her dad
South Vermillion snapped one streak and extended another Thursday night to win Class 3A Sectional 28 8-5 over Brown County at Edgewood High School.
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
Sunday promises to be a super day in Indianapolis.
It’s the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 followed by Indiana vs. Miami in the third game of the National Basketball Association playoffs. -
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. -
North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener
In high school baseball little things mean a lot, and the crack in the door doesn’t have to be open very wide.
Terre Haute North burst through that crack in the bottom of the second inning Wednesday evening at Terre Haute South, scoring seven two-out runs and going on to a surprisingly easy 12-2 victory over the host Braves. -
Blank, Mundy named McMillan Award winners
Posing side-by-side for photos following Terre Haute North High School’s Senior Awards ceremony, seniors Calvin Blank and Chanli Mundy couldn’t look more different.
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Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
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West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
- Local Interest
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
- High School
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West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
High school baseball sectional games between West Vigo and Edgewood have had a tendency to be unpredictable over the years, but the Vikings and Mustangs outdid themselves in that area Thursday evening — and Thursday night.
- BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
- PREP ROUNDUP: Martinsville adavances in Class 4A THS Sectional
- South Vermillion pitches team to sectional title, wins for her dad
- Green's grand slam helps Shakamak to sectional win
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- College
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
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Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field
Indiana State freshman and Terre Haute North graduate John Mascari is among the enormous group of Sycamores competing this weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary. The top 48 NCAA track and field competitors in each event on this half of the United States are narrowed down to 12 who will compete at the NCAA meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
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Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea has battled through so many aches and pains during the 2013 season that it can be hard to discern the serious pain from the pain he pitches through.
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ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury
When Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea slumped on the mound in obvious pain after he took his warm-up pitches, red flags raised for ISU’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament hopes.
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
- Sports Columns
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
Sunday promises to be a super day in Indianapolis.
It’s the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 followed by Indiana vs. Miami in the third game of the National Basketball Association playoffs. - TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Shooters compete to fight cancer
- TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
- TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
- Pro Sports
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
- Colts introduce free-agent signees
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Terre Haute Rex
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Auto Racing
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Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
Ask any IZOD IndyCar series champion and he’d say he would gladly give up that championship to win one Indianapolis 500.
- TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
- Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
- TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
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Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
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